About the work
Xerxes (Italian Serse, HWV 40) is an opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. It was first performed on 15 April 1738 at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, London. The Italian libretto derives from an earlier text by Nicolò Minato, adapted by Silvio Stampiglia. The opening aria "Ombra mai fù", known as "Handel's Largo", is one of the composer's most famous melodies.
Plot
The Persian king Xerxes falls in love with Romilda, who however loves his brother Arsamene. From this constellation unfolds a web of courtship, jealousy, mistaken identity and intrigue: Xerxes's spurned betrothed Amastris pursues him in disguise, while Romilda's sister Atalanta desires Arsamene for herself. After numerous confusions and the king's failed attempt to force a marriage, the right couples are united and Xerxes must reconcile with Amastris. Unlike many opere serie of the period, the work blends serious drama with markedly comic, almost ironic touches.
Cultural significance
Serse holds a special place in Handel's output: it mixes elements of opera seria with comic and satirical moments and was a failure in Handel's own time, yet today ranks among his most admired operas. Its opening aria "Ombra mai fù" became famous far beyond the opera as "Handel's Largo". During the twentieth-century Handel revival, the work was steadily rediscovered on the stage.